With Google's existing maps knowledge, I can very easily see them subsidizing the rides by showing passengers advertisements as they pass certain landmarks.
Say, you pass a mall and the passenger sees an ad on the car screen about a sale at Macy's located inside the mall. With a single tap, the passenger has the option of re-routing the car to the mall.
No way Google isn't going to try to monetize it with targeted ads
Ooh that’s not bad. You could also pay to be higher in the rankings when someone asks to be taken to someplace generic like “I want breakfast” or “what liquor stores are nearby”.
Say, you pass a mall and the passenger sees an ad on the car screen about a sale at Macy's located inside the mall. With a single tap, the passenger has the option of re-routing the car to the mall.
No way Google isn't going to try to monetize it with targeted ads